In 2023 974 migrants and refugees are
known to have died and a further 1,372 went missing while
crossing the Central Mediterranean from North Africa in search
of safety and a better life in Europe, the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) in Libya said on Monday.
In 2022 the dead and missing stood respectively at 529 and 848
and in 2021 at 662 and 891.
In addition, IOM said last year 17,025 migrants and refugees
were intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and returned to
shore, of whom 1,234 in the week of December 24 to 30.
This compares to 24,684 interceptions and returns in 2022 and to
32,425 in 2021.
Migrants and refugees who are returned to Libya are sent to
detention centres where they suffer well-documented violence,
torture and human rights abuses.
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